Uniquely Unwelcome (The Shadow World)

by Brandy Nacole

  Crossing the cove takes some time. Once Ethan reaches the front, he has to stop and wait on the back log to come to the front. The walk is time-consuming but we do eventually make it across. With no clumsiness might I add. Only one boat passes by. I am unable to see the captain’s face, which is disappointing.

  Stepping onto solid ground again, I can feel the tension in my body start to uncoil. My legs feel stiff from the walk. Taking a moment to stretch out, I notice Coy standing off alone. He’s bent over holding his stomach.

  “Hey are you okay?” I ask walking over to him.

  “Just a little motion sickness.” Coy stays bent over but raises his head to look at me. His skin has a greenish tint.

  “Really? You didn’t get sick when we were flying.”

  “That was the first time I’ve ever been on water.” Well that sucks. His first outing on the water turns out to be on logs. At least my first trip was on a comfy boat where I was free to move about. “I’ve been on a plane before,” he adds.

  “You have? When?”

  “When the Vampires came and took me away from my mother.” He stands up straight, still holding his stomach. His face is a little pale and pasty but he seems to be on the rebound.

  I can’t even imagine what that would be like. I mean, I’ve been through some crappy situations but to be yanked away from your mother at a young age to become somebody’s snack toy for the rest of your life is unimaginable.

  “Don’t worry about it; we have other things to concentrate on now,” he says as we walk back over to the group. Ethan’s already changed into his wolf form, which is so not fair. He’s stronger and faster when he’s in that form, so climbing up this mountain is going to be a breeze. I wonder if anyone would get offended if I took the easy way out, but instead, I start making the track up the mountain like everyone else. It’s a steep walk, the ledge with our entrance seeming farther and farther away. I know the climb is hard on everyone but the one I’m really worried about is Eldrida. There must be some easier way for her to get up the mountain.

  When we stop to take a break, I ask her about it. “Eldrida, why don’t you use magic to help you get up the mountain?”

  “I could but I need to save what magic I have for once we get up to the top. If I was to use it now, I would be drained. That is something we cannot afford to do. Besides, a walk like this is good for an old lady.”

  “No, a nice walk through the park on a mild summer’s night is good for you, not this.”

  Without further discussion Eldrida gets up and continues on up the mountain side. Hanalei offers her assistance many times but is refused by the older Elder. I’m thinking it’s more of a pride thing.

  The closer to the ledge we get, the more jittery I become. I’m filled with anxiousness followed by relief, laced with worry and drenched in fear. I’m so close to finding my sister but yet still don’t know if she’s okay. As we near the outcropping, my heart starts racing, not from the climb but from the fight that is awaiting us.

  It’s not like Mr. Bad is going to let us waltz right in there, demand he free the captives, then hand over the keys without a fight. Maybe in children’s fairytales after a few please and thank you’s. I’m pretty sure manners went out the window after the first kidnapping, if not then, for sure after the first murder.

  Passing Eldrida, who is looking winded, I look up at the ledge. It’s hard to see past the lip of the rim. All I can see is the mountain peak above. As I’m looking up, the wolf creature from last night is peering over the edge. As soon as he sees my group below, he jerks back.

  I’m sure an ambush is waiting for us. Signaling for the group to stop, we all huddle against the mountain, trying to stay out of sight of the onlookers above.

  “So what’s the plan? That ledge is probably full of Chimeras waiting to tear us to shreds.” I have no doubt that the ‘bring them in alive’ rule has been terminated. Now they’re out for blood.

  Ethan shakes his head, having shifted back to his human form to communicate better. His pants are now shredded, his shirt completely gone. I wonder how his pants survive. “How is it that your pants stay together but your shirt doesn’t?”

  Ethan looks at me in disbelief. “Are you seriously asking me this now?” I raise my eyebrows, shrugging my shoulders. Rolling his eyes Ethan says, “Our pants are specially made with a stretch liner on the inside. Even though it shreds a little bit, it does stretch over our wolf form so we aren’t so exposed when we shift back.”

  Well that’s nifty. “Well anyway, how are we going to get up there?”

  “We could try ambushing them from the sides. Maybe you could fly up and attack from above.” Ethan suggests.

  “That would never work. Racquel wouldn’t be able to fly without them seeing her do it.” Danika says wrapping her arms around herself for warmth-against the stinging, bitter cold. “Plus, when she landed she would be fully exposed.”

  Giving me a mischievous smile, Jared pipes in, “That would surely distract them. I know I would be distracted.”

  Coy’s goes rigid next to me. The talk we had once landing on shore again seems to have brought sour memories to the surface for Coy. He’s been extremely quiet, glaring at Jared every time he says anything or comes in his line of sight. Jared’s remark doesn’t help.

  I look around us at the exposed mountain-side. We really don’t have any options. “Let’s just attack them. They know we’re coming. We know they’re waiting for us. So let’s get on with this. Ethan, Jared you go to the right. Danika and I will go to the left. Coy, you stay down here with the others until we’re finished.”

  Without further instruction, I’m running up the mountainside. I hear Eldrida say something about making room for her but the rest fades away. I’m filled with adrenaline that is ready to be burned.

  Danika catches up with me, flanking my right side. I don’t see Ethan or Jared but know they are ready, doing as I said. I take a moment to reflect. I may have not always made the right decisions, but who has? My memories with Addie are what drive me, holding me together when nothing else can.

  I know that without a doubt in my mind, that if I die today, at least I died giving it all I had. If this is truly it, I’m going down trying to ensure that the one I hold dear was safe and sound.

  I silently ask my grandmother to be with me, then I give Danika a nod. Together, we rush over the ridge. Standing before us are twenty or so Chimeras, all snarling and ready to end the lives before them.

  Jared and Ethan join us on the cliff, not hesitating for pleasantries. Ethan, in wolf form again, is now chewing out the throat of a scaly-looking Leprechaun; his green scales go flying as purple blood oozes everywhere. He must be part fairy.

  Jared runs around the crest of the ledge so he can get closer to the doorway. As he gets close, the Chimeras go crazy. They all let out ear-splitting shrieks as Jared tries closing the gap to the secret entrance. They’re probably programmed to guard that door to the death.

  Wolf boy comes at me like a force of nature. Without hesitation I give a few one-two punch combos followed up with a round house kick to his gut. I never stop; I just keep pushing and punching. Of course he lands a few blows himself. One makes me see stars but it doesn’t keep me out of the dance.

  I’m ready to give him another round, when the scene becomes blurred and I stop. Suddenly everyone is gone-well except for Ethan, Jared and Danika. All the Chimeras on this ledge a moment ago are gone.

  I look over the ridge down to the bottom. All the Chimeras bodies are sprawled on the ground below. I become unsure whether this is real or just some dream I’m having while I lay unconscious on the ground. How could this happen?

  “Like I said before, make a path and we will take care of them.” Eldrida is standing on the ledge now. Hanalei and Laveda are standing just below, right under Eldrida.

  “Wow, I never would have thought of that.” Danika looks at the older woman as if she just invented air.

  Still confused I place my han
ds on my hips, demanding answers. “What? What did they do?”

  Eldrida leans over the ledge, giving Hanalei and Laveda a boost up. “Well we are on a ledge dear. It doesn’t take much power to bring a gust of wind that will throw your opponents off balance.”

  “But I didn’t feel any wind.” Or did I? I mean maybe a little gust but not enough to send me flailing to my death.

  Laveda shrugs her shoulders innocently. “We had protection around you guys, don’t worry.” I wasn’t worried, just surprised. Like I said before, every supernatural ability has its flaws and its perks. Although I haven’t found a flaw in the Witches’ abilities, I’m sure there is one.

  Hanalei gives Coy a hand. We all turn, looking at the door that will surely change us forever.

  Here we go, into the shimmer to find a killer.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Getting access through the door takes more power than Eldrida thought it would. All the Elders join together, holding hands as they chanted in an ancient language. After a few moments, Eldrida grabs Danika’s hand, switching to English.

  All four Witches chant together, as a blue light surrounds them.

  Goddess of the Moon, Earth, and Sun

  Bring down this barrier

  Bring forth an opening

  Allow us entrance

  Past this wickedness

  Grant us strength through your goodness

  The Witches keep chanting as blue light surrounds the passageway. I stand there in awe as I watch evil and good battle it out through a fabulous light show. The doorway glows a bright crimson-red as the blue light touches its surface.

  I am so enthralled; that when someone touches my hand, I jump. I’m ready to fight but realize that it’s just Laveda. I can feel her power radiating through my hand.

  No words are spoken between us but I understand what she wants from me. So without any further doubt, I join the Witches beside me.

  I watch as the light grows brighter, the passageway growing dimmer. I feel so powerful in that moment; whatever we face, we will prevail.

  Soon the doorway sizzles, almost melting away. Around the edges are burn marks, some places still glowing red. Eldrida warns us not to touch them. The bad news is that the doorway was set up so they could draw some of our power within, releasing it to Cerelia.

  As we start walking through the tunnel that has been made, the dread and doubt creep back into me. I want to reach out and grab one of the Witches’ hands, wanting to feel that strength and power again.

  Instead, I keep moving, opening my senses all the way. It’s so eerily quiet I’m scared to move. Water drips from the ceiling, the only noise I hear.

  Ethan has the lead, followed by Danika, me, Coy, Laveda, Hanalei, Eldrida, with Jared bringing up the rear. The passageway is so small that we can only enter in a single file order.

  As we come to an opening at the end of the tunnel, I’m amazed at the work that has been done to the mountain. I had imagined a cave-like space, with wrought iron bars holding the captives within.

  Instead, it looks like the inside of an office building. There are hallways to our left, right and front. Each hallway has doorways that lead into rooms. There’s even an exit sign above us. How considerate of them.

  Ethan looks back at me, “Which way?” I shrug my shoulders.

  Eldrida’s voice is firm. “This is where we should split up. Ethan, Danika, Coy, and Jared can go find the hostages. The rest of us will go find the leader of this operation.”

  Everyone looks at Eldrida like she has lost her mind. Hanalei voices the opinion. “This is not a time to be splitting up. Whenever we find Cerelia, we are going to need all the help we can get.”

  “I agree, but what good is a Vampire, Lycan, or human going to be when fighting Cerelia? They will not be able to touch her.”

  “What about me?” Danika has turned around. Her face holds the disappointment she feels.

  “I need you to go with Ethan in case he finds the hostages. There may be a spell trapping them inside that you need to break.” Eldrida squeezes past me and Coy.

  Grabbing Danika’s hands, she gives reassurance to the young witch. “I have the utmost faith in you, dear. I know that whatever obstacle you face, you will be able to break through it. Do not doubt yourself; that is your greatest enemy.”

  Tears break, spilling down Danika’s cheeks. She nods to the Elder she admires so much.

  “Ethan, I want you to go right, we will go left.”

  “How do you know which way to go?” Ethan peers down the halls. From what I can see, there really isn’t a difference.

  “If you look very closely, that hallway leads to a dead end. I feel the most energy coming from the right hallway, which makes sense considering the amount of energy Cerelia would need to use to keep the captives quiet,” Eldrida clarifies.

  Without argument, Ethan grabs Danika’s hand and off they go. Coy gives my hand a quick squeeze before following suit. Jared comes up from the back and follows the rest of them.

  Eldrida takes off down the left hall, the other two Elders follow but I freeze. Although I want to know who is behind all this and why, my nightmares rear their ugly little heads. Fear paralyzes me. All I want right now is to run to Addie, get her out of here unnoticed. I don’t want to face the man behind the cloak or his super-scary sidekick.

  As if sensing my fear, Laveda grabs my hand. “She has some kind of hold over you. Don’t let her power weaken you.”

  Laveda’s touch helps calm the panicky feelings. I’m once again in a sound state. Determination begins coursing back through my veins as I follow the Elders down the hall.

  As we come to the end of the hallway, we are ambushed by the minions. Four Chimeras jump out at us from a nook in the wall. Two stand before us and two stand behind us. I turn, ready to kick some butt.

  Just as I’m about to deliver a jab to the beady-eyed one behind me, he’s suddenly thrown away from me. I turn back around to see the two in the front are knocked out cold. Looking back at the two behind me, I see they are unconscious as well.

  Eldrida gives me a satisfied look. “Well done.”

  I shake my head not understanding what she means. I didn’t do anything. I was ready to take them all out but didn’t get a chance.

  “You used your powers wisely.” She continues to give me an approving smile, while I stand there in puzzlement.

  “I didn’t do anything.”

  “When the Chimeras jumped out at us, I felt your energy spike. You shoved them away, protecting all of us.”

  Laveda places her hand on my shoulder. “One day you will understand your powers, and how to control them.”

  Eldrida reaches the end of the hall, which turns into a spiral staircase. I peek over the side but the view is obscured. The staircase is surrounded by rock.

  As we descend the stairs, I keep trying to look to the bottom but can’t see anything past the steps below. Once at the bottom I stop short, my breathing now uneven with panic. This time I can feel that it’s my own fear and not Cerelia’s power over me.

  In the middle of the huge laboratory-like room, Addie is tied to a hospital bed. An IV juts from her arm. She’s awake but motionless.

  I start to run toward her when Hanalei stops me. “It’s a trap. You must be wise.”

  “If we were playing it wise, we wouldn’t have come down here in the first place. We’ve already stepped into the trap.” I shake off her hand and run to Addie’s side.

  She recognizes me. “Racquel?” Her eyes search my face, her heart rate picks up with panic. “You have to leave. If he catches you here, he’ll kill you.”

  “Who? Who did this?” I ask as I rip out the IV. Instead of wasting time unlocking her straps, I break them with a single thought. I can feel my power racing through my veins.

  “Well, I did of course.” Turning to the voice behind me, I look upon the cloaked man who’s been haunting my dreams. He stands at the top of a set of steps. An observation room looks over
the laboratory above him. I can see movement in the room but can’t make out who it is.

  Standing before him now feels different than it did in London. Then I was so shocked to see him in the open. Not to mention, I was momentarily stunned from being knocked around by his minions.

  Now I want nothing more than to kick his ass. My questions about his identity are gone. I could care less if he was Lucifer himself, wreaking havoc just to have some fun. All I want is for him to pay for what he has done.

  His identity means nothing to me now. I want retribution for what he has done to the only person who ever loved me. I want him to pay for all the innocent lives he’s put in harm’s way for whatever sick and twisted game he’s playing.

  “Do not be afraid, my little Racquel. It is not me you need to fear.”

  “Oh really? How do you figure that?”

  Addie sits up on the bed. I want her to make a mad dash for the door but she seems weak. Hopefully I can keep psycho talking while she regains her strength.

  “I only want to give you what’s rightfully yours, a world in which you are adored. Not one where you’re banished and beaten. You deserve so much more than you have, Racquel.”

  “How considerate of you,” I say with sarcasm. “Do you honestly think harming innocent people is a world that I want to live in?” Placing Addie’s arm around my shoulder, I help her stand on her feet. Her legs buckle under her weight but I hold her up.

  “I did what had to be done. Those lives were not wasted by any means. They served me well in my quest to bring justice to our world. The ignorant fools who plague the shadow world will understand your uniqueness. No longer will they condemn you, instead they will admire you.”

  I jerk at his proclamation. My grandfather used to tell that one day the Shadows would admire me, that they would no longer condemn me. I had always hoped he was right.